5. Bruce was full of remorse; but he could not undo his hasty blow. All the Scots condemned him, and the Pope of Rome sent the people of his country. a letter which said that he was unfit to live with Christian men and women and children, and that any man who dared might take his life and fear no punishment. 6. However, some few friends clung to him, and secretly crowned him King of Scotland. But though his friends called him King Robert, he had neither the power nor the state of a king. For twelve months he wandered about Scotland a homeless outlaw, for the English soldiers and Comyn's friends were all eager to kill him. No king since Alfred had suffered such hardships, or had such hair-breadth escapes from the enemy. His enemies used to chase him with blood-hounds; and one day, after he had been flying before them for hours, they were so hard upon him that he felt that he could But just as his breath was failing, and his legs were staggering under him, he came, by good fortune, to a stream of water. He plunged in, and swam down the stream, and then hid himself in some bushes on the banks. The blood-hounds followed his scent to the brink of the stream, but there they stopped; and so Bruce lay hidden till his pursuers had all passed by. run no more. 7. At last, however, King Robert's friends collected a strong army; so he came out of his hiding, and took the command of it. Then fighting began again between the Scots and the English. 8. King Edward was by this time an old man, but he was still determined to hold Scotland; so once more he raised a great army, and prepared to march north. But just as he came to the borders of Scotland he fell sick and died, and the kingdom of England passed to his son Edward, the Prince of Wales. 9. However, Edward II. was like his father in nothing but his name. He was neither a great ruler nor a great soldier, nor would his subjects fight for him as they had fought for his father. So Bruce grew stronger and stronger, and at last he overthrew the English, and defeated them in the famous battle of Bannockburn. Thus he delivered his country, and reigned over the Scots for many years. 23. THE SIEGE OF CALAIS (A.D. 1346-7). 1. The eldest son of Edward II. was called Edward after his father and his grandfather, and he is known in history as Edward III. During his reign the King of France died, leaving no son to succeed him; and King Edward claimed the kingdom because he was the dead king's nephew. But the French chose another king called Philip to rule over them; so Edward resolved to cross the Channel and conquer the kingdom for himself. 2. All his reign, and many years after, were spent in this unjust war, which is called the Hundred Years' War. But though the war itself was unjust, the English soldiers fought bravely at the command of F the king; and our knights, and our archers with their bows of yew, won many victories over the French. The most famous of these victories were those of Crecy and Poitiers and Agincourt. 3. There was a strong town on the coast of France, just opposite to Dover on the coast of England, called Calais, which Edward wanted to conquer, so that his armies might have a safe landing-place on French ground, and his ships a port to harbour in. But the walls of Calais were so high and strong that no soldiers could break through them. So he surrounded the town with his soldiers, that the people might not come in or out to get food, and then waited for week after week, and month after month, hoping that hunger would compel the French soldiers inside to surrender the town. And the English attacked the walls again and again; but though the brave garrison were well-nigh starving, they always beat the English back. So 4. At last all the food in the town was gone. the governor came out upon the walls and waved a white flag, as a sign that he wished to speak; upon which, Edward sent a knight forward to hear what he had to say. 5. "Brave knight," said the governor, "it is almost a year since you began to besiege us, and we have endeavoured to do our duty against you. But we are dying of hunger, and we have no hope of help from without. I am willing therefore to give up the town to you; and I only ask you to spare the lives of the brave men who have endured so much with me." 6. But King Edward was so wroth with the men of Calais for their obstinacy that he was determined to put every one of them to death. However, he relented in some measure, and declared that if six of the chief citizens would come to him barefoot with halters round their necks, bringing the keys of the city, and willing to die whatever death he chose, he would slay them and spare the rest. 7. Then the governor returned into the town, and commanded the great bell to ring, that the citizens might gather together to hear the word of the king; and when they heard it they all began to weep. But soon the wealthiest burgher of the town, Master Eustace de St. Pierre, stood up and said'My masters, it were great pity that all this company should die by famine or the sword, and great praise would he win who should save them. Therefore I am ready to be the first of the six who go barefoot to King Edward; and of my own will I will put a halter round my neck, and strip myself to my shirt, and yield me to his mercy." 8. And as soon as he had spoken, another one said he would be the second; and then a third offered himself, and a fourth, and a fifth, and a sixth. And all the rest crowded round the six who were willing to die for them, and thanked them, and sent them forth with tears and great praises. 9. And at the sight of these six brave men, willing to die for their town, the hearts of all the lords and ladies present were touched, and they prayed King Edward to spare them. But King Edward's heart was set against them, and he commanded his |